Belmont Abbey College offers the close-knit community and personalized attention that many students value in a small private college setting.
However, families should carefully evaluate the financial investment against moderate earnings outcomes and consider program choice as a key factor in long-term success.
Belmont Abbey College is a small private nonprofit institution in North Carolina that serves students seeking an intimate college experience with close faculty relationships and a tight-knit campus community. As a smaller institution, it offers the personalized attention and mentorship that many students value, though this comes with trade-offs in terms of long-term financial outcomes compared to larger universities.
Graduates earn a median of $47,937 ten years after enrollment, placing the college in the 34th percentile nationally for earnings outcomes. The institution serves a moderate share of low-income students, with about 25% receiving Pell Grants and 27% being first-generation college students. While access is reasonable, the college falls into the "Opportunity Builders" mobility category, indicating that outcomes for low-income students could be stronger.
For families drawn to the benefits of a small private college—including small class sizes, close relationships with professors, and a supportive campus culture—Belmont Abbey offers those advantages. However, prospective students should carefully evaluate program choices and debt levels, as the financial return varies considerably depending on field of study and how much families need to borrow.
Belmont Abbey College's program portfolio reflects its focus on practical, career-oriented fields, though outcomes vary significantly by major choice. Business Administration dominates both enrollment and financial returns, graduating 94 students with solid median earnings of $46,790. This program represents the college's strongest economic engine and provides the most reliable path to financial stability for graduates.
Education programs show a different pattern, with General Education graduating 28 students at more modest earnings of $26,739, reflecting typical compensation in teaching fields. Adult and Continuing Education, with 24 graduates earning $35,416, falls between the business and traditional education outcomes. The concentration in these three areas—business, education, and continuing education—reflects the college's mission to serve working professionals and career-focused students.
As a small institution, Belmont Abbey cannot offer the program breadth of larger universities, making major selection particularly important for students. The data clearly shows that business-oriented programs provide stronger financial returns, while education and service fields align with their sectors' typical earning patterns.
Graduates of Belmont Abbey College earn a median of $47,937 ten years after enrollment, which places the institution in the lower third nationally for long-term earnings outcomes. While this reflects the challenges that many small private colleges face in competing with larger universities on pure earnings metrics, outcomes vary significantly by program choice and career path.
Business Administration stands out as the college's strongest program from a financial perspective, graduating 94 students with median earnings of $46,790 ten years out. This represents both the largest program and the highest aggregate return, making it a key economic driver for the institution. Education programs, while popular with 28 graduates, show more modest earnings at $26,739, reflecting the typical salary patterns in teaching and educational fields. Adult and Continuing Education graduates earn around $35,416, representing a middle ground between the business and traditional education tracks.
The variation in outcomes by major underscores the importance of program selection at Belmont Abbey. Students in business-oriented fields tend to see stronger financial returns, while those pursuing education or service-oriented careers should expect more modest earnings that align with those sectors' typical compensation patterns.
Affordability at Belmont Abbey College varies significantly by family income, with net prices that reflect the institution's private college positioning. Low-income families pay about $17,985 annually after aid, while middle-income families see costs around $24,173, and higher-income families pay approximately $25,375. These prices place the college in the 25th percentile nationally for affordability, meaning costs are higher than at most comparable institutions.
The financial aid structure shows that the college provides meaningful support to lower-income students, with a net price reduction of nearly $8,000 between low- and high-income families. However, even with this aid, families across all income levels face substantial costs that typically require borrowing. The college's private status means that even after financial aid, most families will need to plan carefully for the full cost of attendance over four years.
For families considering Belmont Abbey, the key affordability question centers on whether the benefits of a small private college experience justify the higher costs compared to public alternatives. The intimate campus environment and personalized attention come with a premium that families should weigh against their financial capacity and the student's career goals.
Belmont Abbey College Hub Overview
Executive summary with admissions, cost, outcomes, and program analysis
